So that rounds out things at The Gabba. A rather sad finish really as the game reached a glum conclusion and it was followed by Ashwin's retirement. Don't let that take the sheen away from what's already been and promises to continue being a cracking series. India showed great fight and character towards the latter end of this game after being under the pump. Now we wait for Boxing Day and the MCG. News is that it's already a sell-out and there are few better settings for some cricket than a full house at the MCG. That's it from us here, this is Anurag Hegde signing off on behalf of Pradeep Krishnamurthy and Praveen Kumar. Take care and goodbye.

Ravichandran Ashwin factfile

* Second highest wicket take for India (537 wickets), seventh highest overall

* 37 five-wicket hauls, the joint second most with Shane Warne and only behind Muttiah Muralitharan (67)

* Dismissed most left-handers in Test cricket (268)

* Joint most POTS awards (11) alongside Muttiah Muralitharan

* Best SR for a spinner in Tests with a minimum of 200 wickets (50.7)

* Four times he has scored a century and picked up a five wicket haul in a Test, second most behind Ian Botham's five

* Never missed a Test match at home

Here's a heartfelt tribute from Saurabh Shankar that echos all of our feelings

Nobody said it was easy, no one ever said it would be so hard. O take me back to the start… When Coldplay wrote their famous song The Scientist, nobody would have imagined the lyrics would be fitting for the retirement of the cricket scientist. The boy from West Mambalam became India’s man for all for seasons, especially in home conditions and now leaves the dressing room enriching it with so many of his ‘kutti stories.’ The street dog like fighter that he was, he never backed away from a challenge, carving a place for himself purely on the back of his self confidence and belief. He was a young, mere mortal who challenged the spin Gods of India upon his arrival and now retires as an immortal warrior himself.

Someone who always put the team first, Ashwin famously scored a crucial fifty against South Africa when he was still unsure of his family’s whereabouts during the Chennai floods of 2015. Earlier in the year, he faced a family medical emergency and left a Test midway against England, only to rejoin within a day’s time because the team always came first for him. The team came first for him when he was mincing in pain with an adductor tear against Australia, and bowled with glares on to hide his tears. The team always came first when he took body blow after body blow in the Sydney blockathon of 2021 alongside Hanuma Vihari.

Mock him, criticise him for being a poor fielder, call him a ‘has been’ and Ravichandran Ashwin always came back at his critics with a slightly modified action, a new spin variation and a new dimensional to his game. Constantly reinventing himself, Ashwin managed to stay relevant in the game to convert himself from just a wily off spinner to an evergreen in the gentleman’s game. He retires on his own terms now, having been the Man of the Series just a couple of months ago(against Bangladesh). Ash Anna, time for national duty is over, you have the streets now. Thy streets wait for you!!

Transcript from Ashwin's announcement: I think it would be unfortunate to have me around his side (on sitting with Rohit at the PC), since he has announced I'm not going to take too much of your time, this will be my last year as an Indian cricketer at the international level. There's a bit left in me as a cricketer, but I would like to exploit it at the domestic and club-level cricket, but this would be the last day (at the international level). I have had a lot of fun, a lot of memories alongside Rohit and several of my other teammates. We've lost some of them over the last few years, we've been the last bunch of OGs I can say that are left out in the dressing room. I can mark this as my last day in the dressing room. I have several people to thank, but I would be failing in my duties if I didn't thank the BCCI and my teammates. I want to name a few of them, all the coaches who've been part of the journey, most importantly Rohit, Virat, Ajinkya, Pujara, who have taken a number of catches around the bat and have given men a number of wickets that I've managed over a number of years. Also want to thank the Australian team who've been fierce competitors over a number of years, I've enjoyed my team playing against them. It's already getting long, I wouldn't be taking any questions, truly emotional moments and I'm not in a position to answer any questions in the right manner. Once again, thanks for being the journalists you've been, for writing good things, and some nasty things at times. It's a relationship I think we'll maintain forever and I hope you give the other cricketers the same amount of love that you showered upon me. I've stopped as a cricketer, but I'll go on and be involved with the game, it's a game which has given me a lot.

Dinesh Karthik will answer your questions ahead of the 4th Test vs. Australia! Send them in using #heyCB on X to be featured in our next episode.

Ravichandran Ashwin, one of India’s greatest ever, has decided to call it time. 106 Tests, 537 wickets and 3503 runs - his contributions to Indian cricket are far greater than just what those incredible numbers suggest and he leaves behind a tremendous legacy and massive boots to fill. He was the spearhead during India’s ascent to the top and eventual domination in Test cricket between 2014 and 2019. He was an absolute behemoth in home-conditions and a key contributor while travelling. Not just with the ball mind you but also with more than useful contributions with the bat. For years, Ashwin led India’s spin attack and provided stability, balance and solidity to the lineup.

Breaking: Ravichandran Ashwin has just announced his retirement from international cricket effective immediately